PLANS BEYOND BELIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1706, 1 May 1917, Page 1

PLANS BEYOND BELIEF.

WHAT EDISON SAID,

Mr E. Marshall, a Avell-knoAvn American journalist and publicist, interviewed by the Central New-, re presentative regarding the war between the United States and Germany, said he rejoiced at the decision of President Wilson. "1 admit, ’’ he said, ‘•(hat America is not a military Power, but she is far more potent in man-lighting force than most people on this side of the Atlantic think. Her navy is of splendid personnel, and should be of groat and instantaneous value. Regarding (he sending of men and munil ions to Europe, 1 know the problem of the transport is a difficult one, but Great Britain has brought her fighters from ail parts of her Dominions, defying the submarine. German submarines will be of no greater menace to troopships in the future than in the past. On the other hand, I am convinced that the menace will be less. It must always be remembered (hat the United States is a great financial and manufacturing Power. I am not giving away Slate secrets when I say that 1 know definitely that plans for mobilisation have already been perfected. America’s capability for producing food and munitions for export to the war zone under a scheme which has been prepared by the greatest experts in the country, and placed before the American Government, is beyond belief. There is nothing to (ouch it in the whole of Europe. If the United States (bids it necessary to send men to (he European Avar zone she is in a position to send thousands and thousands of well-trained and perfectly equipped soldiers. Although America has not been regarded as one of the world’s greatest shipbuilding nations, her shipbuilding yards will come under the scheme of mobilisation, so that if need arises she can build vessels very much faster than Germany had sunk ships in the past. Then (here is another point, and I speak of il with a good deal of hesitation. Already American inventive genius has been organised and mobilised both for purposes of defence and offence. Only a few months ago Mr Edison told me (here was no reason why a vessel on the high seas should not be warned mechanically and automatically of the approach of a submarine.”